The sun is blazing and the temperature outside is a scorching 44?C. But I don?t really notice the impossible heat outside, for where I?m seated, it?s a cool 19?C. How am I playing hooky with the elements? Consider this: I am in an Audi A6 cruising along at a rather (in)decent speed on a superb multi-lane expressway somewhere in Uttar Pradesh. And if I?m aware of the temperature outside, it?s thanks to the multi-media interface display on the car?s fascia. The Audi A6 is with me for the entire day and boy, do I plan to take advantage of this! I?ve been driving for about two hours now and have become quite familiar with the car ? well at least, I think so.

With Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen hogging the limelight, Audi has spent a long time in the shadows. But the company has a rich and varied past with the A6 going back to 1968 when the first Audi 100 was launched. Known internally as the C1, this featured front-wheel drive and a medium-compression engine housed in a stiff and lightweight, but sturdy body. The second-generation car, the C2, launched in 1976 incorporated modern styling while in 1977, the Audi 100 became the first production car to be powered by a 2.2-litre five-cylinder engine with fuel injection that developed 136 bhp.

The C3 followed and this had an extremely aerodynamic body, the co-efficient of drag being a low 0.30. The fourth generation Audi 100 or the C4 in 1990 was a very different car in terms of engineering and aerodynamics. With a wider track, it was more stable and had better handling than before. In the mid-90s, Audi decided to change the model designation throughout the range. So the Audi 100 became the A6. This allowed greater clarity in identifying the model range and at the same time, the introduction of more models. Now, the Audi range starts from the A2 and includes the A3, the A4 and A6 before topping out at the A8.

In 1997, the C5 was introduced and impressed with not just its looks and styling but also all its sporting and dynamic qualities. The car came with a range of engines as well as transmission and drive train options. In fact, the first six-cylinder TDI power unit and the Multitronic, continuously variable automatic transmission, both made their world debut in the C5.

Which brings us to the C6, which is what I?m cruising in at the moment. A 2005 model, the first thing one notices about the C6 (or the A6) is the grille ? it?s so in-your-face and Audi-like. The shape of the grille actually harks back to the days when the famous Auto Union racing cars battled it out with Mercedes-Benz on the racetracks of Europe. We?re in for a replay all right, what with the A6 going head-to-head with the Mercedes E Class here in India.

The A6?s rear end is a little on the heavier side but it gives the car a solid look. The whole body is galvanised to make it rust-resistant. In fact, it has a very strong body as apparent from Euro NCAP crash tests. The A6 scored major points in both the side and frontal impact tests.

Moving along, there?s a host of goodies for the driver as well as the passengers. Apart from the climate control system with independent temperature control, standard features include electrically adjustable front seats (it feels luxurious even if you?re just playing around with the controls, especially the lumbar support), leather upholstered seats, plush walnut inlays and a DSP music system. The instrument panel has variable lighting intensity, round instruments for the speedometer and tachometer and tell-tales for every conceivable system in the car. The multimedia interface is operated by a rotary knob located just behind the transmission shift lever. Turn it once to select the radio channel or CD player, then press a button and turn it again and one can check tyre pressures and battery condition. On the safety side, the A6 has dual front airbags plus side airbags, front and rear seatbelts (mandatory now), ESP/ASR (Electronic Stabilisation Programme and Traction Control), and ABS brakes with EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution).

Now all that is for stopping the A6 safely but what does the car have going for the driver? How about a 3.0-litre V6 engine with 24 valves and two overhead cams, developing 218bhp and 90Nm of torque? Power is transmitted through a seven-speed (multitronic) automatic transmission (like Sonata?s H-Matic and the Lancer Invec?s Manomatic). The Audi A6 claims to do 0-100kph in a cool 7.9 seconds. While I don?t really get a chance to check this out, I do manage to take it to its claimed top speed on the expressway. It?s a little scary as the A6 is so well insulated from NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) that at even at three-figure speeds, it?s easy to make an error and activate the safety systems.

Do I check out the handling? Not really ? because I am driving on a (deserted) public road and also, more importantly, I?m driving somebody else?s Rs 39-lakh ? yes, Rs 39-lakh ? car. For the same reason, I avoid crowded areas. But I do realise that the A6 is very stable and can take a bend as if on rails ? even at over 100kph.

According to me, the A6?s most practical feature is its acoustic parking warning system. Reversing into a parking space, sensors integrated into the rear bumper activate a beeper that starts beeping faster as the rear of the car draws closer to the wall.

While it?s true that most Indians have a fixation for Mercedes-Benz, I came away from the drive with the distinct feeling that the A6 could be a decent seller and take away a large chunk from Mercedes? sales pie ? but only if the company?s dealers and sales people can do a good job of getting past that Mercedes fixation. One may not see a battle royale in India just yet however, for at Rs 39 lakh this is certainly not a car for the masses ? though it is in the rest of the world.

My first car

Rahul Dev,
model/actor

nMy first car was a blue Maruti 800. It was a gift from my father when I graduated from college in 1993. First cars are always special. I even remember its number — 3385. But the first car that I bought with my own money was a Maruti 1000. It was in my favourite colour — silver. I had it fitted with power windows and power steering because in those days the Maruti didn’t come with these features. It also had a great music system. I liked it so much that I kept it for a long time. I sold it only four years ago. I don’t have a dream car as such and I am not very passionate about cars. For me, it has to be a luxury product on wheels which has AC and good leg room. Right now, I own a Honda Accord, though I don’t drive much myself, the roads in Mumbai being pathetic. So I drive only at night or on the highways. I also have my heart set on a Mercedes, which might just be my next buy. I can hardly wait